Free Movie Mondays!

Press release provided by The Ashland Theatre

The Ashland Theatre is thrilled to announce a weekly summer series of free family films thanks to a generous gift from the Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.

“We have run a $2 Movie Monday summer series for the last two years and have welcomed over 1,000 attendees each year.” said Executive Director Courtney F. Caldwell.  “We are so happy to have the opportunity to make the series completely free thanks to Rappahannock Electric Cooperative.  Our Theatre is a community destination and should be enjoyed by everyone.”  The 2025 summer series will include family favorite films, such as Sing 2, Shrek, and The Land Before Time. 

The series begins Monday June 9, running through Monday August 11, with two showtimes each day, at 10AM and 2PM.  Ticket registration will open at 5PM the night before each film through the Ashland Theatre website.

Monday, June 9: Trolls Band Together
Monday, June 16: The Land Before Time
Monday June 23: The Bad Guys
Monday June 30: Minions: The Rise of Gru
Monday July 7: Migration
Monday July 14: Shrek
Monday July 21: An American Tail
Monday July 28: The Wild Robot
Monday August 4: Puss in Boots, The Last Wish
Monday August 11: Sing 2

 For more information, please visit ashlandtheatre.org.

The Ashland Theatre is committed to offering a range of programming for the greater Ashland community.  The Theatre welcomed over 22,400 patrons throughout 2024.  The Theatre offers not just movies and concerts, but recurring programs to keep building audiences for the next 75 years.  The annual Ashland Book Festival, the Holly Jolly Holiday Party, monthly Toddler Takeover, E-Sports tournaments, Knit at Night series, open mic nights, and private rentals are all examples of the ways the Theatre continues to be a staple of Ashland and the greater Richmond metro area.

 


The historic Ashland Theatre, built in 1948, is an art deco style, 260-seat entertainment venue.
The Ashland Theatre Foundation’s mission is to reinvent the classic American movie house
experience through exceptional film, live performances, and live music. As a non-profit
organization, we will deliver a deeper level of engagement through speakers, panels,
talkbacks and events that entertain, educate, inspire and are welcoming to all.

The Heart of Hanover Beats Strong in Downtown Ashland

Downtown Ashland Association’s archival photo of Root Modern Dentistry’s ribbon cutting

There’s something truly special about a community that shows up for its neighbors—and thanks to the Heart of Hanover Business Awards, we now have 22,441 more reasons to celebrate just how much love there is for local businesses in Hanover County.

With more than 600 businesses nominated and over 10,000 ballots cast, this inaugural awards program from Hanover County Economic Development captured the passion and pride of our community. After two rounds of enthusiastic voting, the top three finalists in each of the seven categories have been revealed—and we are bursting with pride to see so many of Downtown Ashland Association’s partners, sponsors, neighbors, and friends on the list.

Let’s raise a glass (perhaps one brewed by a finalist below!) to these remarkable Heart of Hanover Finalists:

  • 🏆 Destination Business of the Year:

    • Ashland Theatre
       This beautifully restored 1950s theatre is more than a movie house—it’s a cultural heartbeat in downtown Ashland. Home to countless free Downtown Ashland Association events, Ashland Theatre delights with first-run and classic films (some for as low as $5!), live music, theatrical performances, and signature programming like Toddler Takeover and Knit at Night.

    • Freckled Flower Farm

    • Hanover Tavern

  • 🪥 Health & Wellness Business of the Year:

    • Root Modern Dentistry
       More than just a Downtown Ashland Association sponsor, Root Modern Dentistry brings energy, excellence, and a neighborly smile to everything they do. From showing up for Ashland Train Day to welcoming patients into their stylish, state-of-the-art office, Root is redefining what it means to care.

    • Good Vibes RVA

    • Pulse Barre Studio

  • 🍻 Manufacturer of the Coolest Thing Made in Hanover County:

    • Center of the Universe Brewing Company
       From brewing award-winning beverages to collaborating on Downtown Ashland’s Saturday Soundtracks, this local legend keeps things cool—literally and creatively. Bonus points: you can enjoy their signature Brewski aboard Amtrak Virginia’s dining car!

    • Naked Goat Soap Co.

    • Virginia Artesian Bottling Co.

  • 💙 Nonprofit Organization of the Year:

    • The Arc of Hanover Thrift Store
       An extraordinary organization doing impactful work for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Hanover County, The Arc Thrift Store is also a vibrant part of Downtown Ashland. From volunteering at Train Day to engaging in our Business Innovation Workshops, their spirit of service is unmatched.

    • Alix's Fosters

    • The Lucky Paw Foundation

  • 🍽️ Restaurant of the Year:

    • The Caboose Market & Café
       A cornerstone of downtown Ashland, The Caboose delivers farm-to-fork favorites with local flair. Whether you’re savoring a meal or spotting their generous donations at Downtown Ashland events, their community care shines as brightly as their flavors.

    • Red Rooster Country Store

    • Rise and Shine Diner

  • 🛍️ Retail Business of the Year:

    • Refunkit
       Always fresh, always fabulous—Refunkit is a treasure trove of local art and creative finds. Their curated collection adds charm to downtown and ensures every Downtown Ashland event sparkles with one-of-a-kind flair.

    • For Posh Sake

    • Green Top Sporting Goods

  • Service Business of the Year:

    • Blazer Heating, Air and Plumbing

    • Creative Enterprise Powerwashing LLC

    • PawsCienda Pet Resort

As if all that weren’t heartwarming enough, we’re deeply honored that Downtown Ashland Association was nominated for Nonprofit Organization of the Year. With a staff of just two and a few extraordinary volunteers, we work tirelessly to support downtown businesses and everyone who carries the Ashland spirit—in the Center of the Universe and beyond.

While we’re not among this year’s finalists, we are proud to celebrate the incredible organizations who are—and we’re thankful every day for the opportunity to collaborate with and champion so many of them. Being nominated by this community is a reminder of how meaningful this work is, and how lucky we are to do it.

Now’s your chance to discover for yourself why these finalists truly are the Heart of Hanover. Visit, shop, dine, and support your favorites—and help keep our community vibrant, welcoming, and uniquely Ashland.

Halfway to Ashland Halloween

It’s June in Ashland, which means the countdown to cobwebs and candy has officially begun—because we’re halfway to Halloween! Even better? This month boasts the only Friday the 13th of 2024, and our frightfully fun friends at RED VEIN Haunt are helping us scream it in style.

Friday the 13th with RED VEIN 👻
 Mark your calendar for Friday, June 13th, when RED VEIN rents out the Ashland Theatre for an exclusive (and slightly sinister) celebration. Want in? Follow RED VEIN for contests where you can win:
🍿 Tickets to their private movie night
🎟 Free admission to the RED VEIN Haunt this October
🕵️‍♀️ Escape room specials
👻 Deals on Ashland Haunted History Tours
It’s the unluckiest day of the year—but you might just get lucky. 😈

Ashland Halloween: 31 Days of Local Terror (and Treats)
 Here in the Center of the Universe, Halloween is more than just a night—it’s a whole month of ghoul times. Every October, thousands of trick-or-treaters creep their way into Downtown Ashland. To keep everyone safe (and well-fed), Downtown Ashland Association is working closely with Ashland Police to shift the haunt away from the train tracks and into our beloved local shops, restaurants, and neighborhoods.

And we’re doing more than just moving monsters—we’re supporting the community with free candy for residents, family-friendly events, and local business engagement. Here’s how you can get involved today:

🗺️ Get on the Trick-or-Treat Map
 You asked, we listened: the Google Trick-or-Treat Map is BACK! Add your home and even upload a photo of your decorations to help the little monsters find your lair:
Add Your Home to the Map

🎃 Snag Your Ashland Halloween Yard Sign
 Want to show your haunted house pride? Pick up one of 200 exclusive Ashland Halloween yard signs at the Ashland Feed Store starting Monday, September 29. These signs are yours to keep—any left behind after Halloween will be spirited away for recycling.

🛍️ Be a Vendor—For the Price of a Bag of Candy
 We’re summoning vendors to join the Songs from the Center of the Universe Concert! If accepted, all you need to do is donate a bag of candy (minimum 300 pieces) to cover your booth fee. Apply here:
Vendor Application

🍬 Candy for Our Community
 Ashland residents—especially those along Center Street and Railroad Avenue—can pick up free candy at the Off the Rails Beer Festival. Bring your ID or a piece of mail with your address, and we’ll treat you right!

📸 Picture Scavenger Hunt: Snap, Connect, Win
 Back again this year: the Halloween Picture Scavenger Hunt! Snap photos of spooky stops and grab your illuminating prizes at Scavenger Hunt stops. Think of it as trick-or-treating with a twist.

Raffle - 4 Fast Pass RED VEIN Haunt Tickets Raffle - 4 Fast Pass RED VEIN Haunt Tickets
Sold out
Raffle - 4 Fast Pass RED VEIN Haunt Tickets
$10.00

Enter to win 4 Fast Pass tickets to RED VEIN Haunt—Central Virginia’s legendary haunted attraction that mixes haunted house horror with immersive storytelling. 😱👻 Located in the actual haunted Hanover Vegetable Farm, RED VEIN is known for its movie-quality sets, live actors, and interactive terror that blurs the line between fiction and fear. 💀🌕

🚨 The Fast Pass lets you skip the general admission line—meaning you get to face your fears faster! No long waits. Just straight into the madness. 🧛‍♀️🔪

🎟️ Raffle tickets are just $10 and support the non-profit mission of the Downtown Ashland Association!
📅 Winner will be emailed on Tuesday, September 30—just in time for peak scare season.

🕸️ Don’t ghost this chance—enter today!

Ashland Halloween Sponsorship
Sold out
Ashland Halloween Sponsorship
$100.00

🎃 Sponsor Ashland Halloween for just $100! 👻
Get scary good exposure while supporting free fun for Ashland families:

📬 Logo featured on a postcard mailed to 4,000+ households (commit by Sept. 8!)
📱 Reach 1.5 million+ impressions across print, digital & radio
🧡 Included in curated promotions that spotlight your biz
🍬 Help fund candy for Ashland neighbors hit hardest by trick-or-treaters
🎉 Support free, family-friendly Halloween fun in the Center of the Universe!

Only $100 to be part of the magic ✨
Secure your spot before this opportunity vanishes! 🕸️

So, whether you're in it for the frights or the free treats, now's the time to join the haunted happening. Because in Ashland, Halloween doesn’t sneak up on us... we summon it early.

🕸️ Let the countdown begin… 🕸️
Visit ashlandhalloween.com for all the gory (and glorious) details.

DAA Executive Director Featured on Partners for Better Communities Podcast

Downtown Ashland Association’s Executive Director, “Coach” Antonio Miller, recently joined Douglas Jackson of the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development on Partners for Better Communities, episode 67: A Conversation with Antonio Miller.

Recorded in the heart of the Center of the Universe while 37 Main Street directors from across the Commonwealth gathered in Ashland, this inspiring episode offers a firsthand look at Ashland’s community spirit and the powerful impact of the Virginia Main Street program—celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Coach Miller, who joined the Downtown Ashland Association in 2024, reflects on the town's charm, diversity, and momentum:

“Ashland is three-dimensional… It’s the biggest little town you’re gonna come across. Anybody that visits is probably gonna run into somebody like themselves. You can find a bit of yourself in Ashland no matter who you are.”

The episode highlights how Ashland’s kindness, connectivity, and community leadership—especially its dedicated board and volunteers—create fertile ground for growth.

“That kindness allows me to shorten my learning curve, optimize my approach to how I want to steer the growth of our Main Street… It starts with that kindness.”

He shares his gratitude for the dream team around him, including the board that took a chance on someone new to the role, and partners like Louise Keeton, who, in his words, “Doesn’t believe in 99%. Most people would take that A and say, I got an A. But she wants to make sure she's putting her best forward all the time.” This team of community crusaders is working tirelessly on behalf of downtown Ashland thanks to leaders like “Coach” Antonio Miller.

For anyone interested in building better communities, especially through the lens of historic preservation and economic revitalization, this is a conversation not to miss.

🎧 Listen now: A Conversation with Antonio Miller – Partners for Better Communities, Ep. 67

In Memory of Bob Brown

Bob Brown during the The Cross Bros. Return in 2012.

Downtown Ashland has lost one of its guiding lights.

Bob Brown, former Board Member of Downtown Ashland Association and longtime Chair of the Design Committee, passed away—leaving behind a legacy that has shaped the heart and future of our town. A gifted urban planner, architectural artist, and true visionary, Bob was not only a brilliant mind, but also a kind and generous soul who made Ashland more beautiful, more walkable, and more welcoming for all.

Since 2012, Bob dedicated himself as a volunteer with Downtown Ashland Association, serving seven years on the Board of Directors and ten years as Chair of the Design Committee. His work through the committee honored Ashland’s historic charm while advocating for thoughtful, inclusive public spaces. Every brick, bench, and bloom that graces our downtown is, in some way, touched by Bob’s influence.

Before lending his talents to Ashland, Bob led award-winning revitalization projects in Hoboken, Winston-Salem, and Hartford. A Princeton-educated architect and passionate urban planner, he also taught future city builders at the University of Pennsylvania. But his greatest joy came from the community he built right here in the Center of the Universe with his beloved wife, Mary Lou.

Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park coming soon to historic downtown Ashland thanks to visionaries like Bob Brown.

As Chair of the Ashland Planning Commission—where he served for nine years, four as Chair—Bob played a pivotal role in updating the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. For this and so much more, he was honored with the Ashland Citizen Leadership Award. Bob’s work laid the groundwork for present and future projects like the Railroad Avenue streetscape, enhancements around Town Hall and the historic train station, and the vision for the Mid-Atlantic Railroad Park.

His vision didn’t just shape our streets—it inspired a community. Bob believed in the power of places and in the people who inhabit them. His loss is deeply felt, but his legacy will endure in every thoughtful detail he helped design and every person he mentored along the way.

Services will be held Saturday, June 7th at 2pm at St. James the Less (125 Beverly Rd, Ashland, VA 23005).

Downtown Ashland Associaton’s reception in honor of Bob Brown in 2022